Swivel having cooling means



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June 7, 1932. G. TREMOLADA SWIVEL HAVING COOLING MEANS Filed Feb. 25,1929 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 I 6am/favo Kee/vouw@ June 7, 193.2.

G. TREMOLADA SWIVEL HAVING COOLING MEANS Filed Feb. 25, 1929 PatentedJune 7, 1932 I GUGLIELKO TREMOLDA, 0F HOLLYWOGID,

CALIFGRNIA, ASSIGNOR T EMSCO DERRICK & EQUIEMENT COMPANY, GF LOSANGELES, CALIFORNIA, A CORPORATION'OF CALIFORNIA SWIVEL HAVING COOLINGMEANS Application filed. February 25, 1929. Serial No. 342,637.

My invention relates to a novel form of swivel such as is vused in theoil-well industry.

In drilling a well by the rotary method, it

is customary to secure asuitable rotary cuttomary to vforce a suitablemud through the ter to the lower end of'a string of drill pipe. Thispipe extends downward into the well and is rotated at the surface of theground by a suitable`A rotary machine. It is cusdrill pipe during thedrilling operation in order to help the cutting properties of the bit,and also to raise the cuttings to the surface of the ground. Thisrequires a swivel joint which will transmit the mud from a stationaryelement to a movable element, and this swivel must be able to withstandhigh pressures and must be in duid-tight relationship with the drillipe. Y

It is an object o my invention to provide a swivel havinfr lubricantcooling means.

When the Weill has reached a suitable depth, it is necessary to supportthe drill pipe from the swivel in order that too much pressure may notbe applied to the rotary cutter. It is likewise necessary to provideradial and thrust bearings in the swivel and to properly lubricate theparts thereof. The usual form of radial bearing utilized is of thesleeve type which quickly wears and allows the stationary and movableelements to become disaligned and the parts to wear. It is an object ofmy invention to provide a swivel, utilizing a splash system forlubricating the rollerbearings which journal a rotating element thereof.

I refer to operate the bearings in a chamber Filled with lightlubricating oil and provide a packing between the stationary androtatable elements. This packing is concentric with and surrounds theupper end of the swivel body. f

It is an object of my invention to provide means for centrifugallylubricating the bearlngs so as to cause the `displacement and cooling ofthe heated lubricating oil.

is customary to pack grease within the body of the swivel to lubricatethe parts. Inasmuch as these parts are subjected to wear and shock,improper lubrication, that is to lextends to the surface of say,over-heated oil, causes evaporation of the oil and results often inthrowing the fluidconducting member out of alignment with the rotatablemember.v

It is an object of my invention to provide a stationary fluid-conducting-member having a liange by which it is suspended from the body of thedevice so as to be easily removed from the assembly Without the swivelbeing taken apart, and which at all times is maintained in correctalignment with the rotatable fluid-conducting member.

Further objects and advantages of my invention will be made evidenthereinafter.

Referring to the drawings in which l illustrate the preferred embodimentof my invention:

Fig. 1 is an elevational view of my invention with portions broken awayvand in section. to illustrate the assembly of the improved swivel. y

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional View.

Fig. 3 is a. cross-sectional view taken on the line 3--3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. i is a cross-sectional View taken on the line 4--4 of Fig. 1.

Fig 5 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 5 5 of Fig. l.

In one method of drilling, a suitable bit is secured to the lower end ofa drill pipe which the ground, this drill pipe being rotated by a rotarymachine secured to the derrick floor. The upper end of the drill rod isrotatably supported by a swivel 15 incorporating the features of myinvention. This swivel comprises a body 16 having trunnions 17projecting therefrom. Eyes 18 of a bail 19 are journaled on thesetrunnions. The bail 19, in turn, is supported by a link connected toa`travelling block supported on ropes from the to of the derrick so asto be vertically mova le. These elements, being common to the art, arenot illustrated.

Referring particularly to Fig. 2 the body 16 has an oil and bearingchamber 20 provided therein which is formed of upper and Vlower sections21 and 22. Formed integral an annular collar 23 which is spaced from theinterior wall of the body 16 andis provided with openingsv 24communicating with the lower section 22 of the oil chamber 20. The lowersection 22 of the chamber 20 forms a continuation of the upper section21. Mounted on the body 16 and secured thereto by bolts 25 is a covermember 26. The upper end of the member 26 comprises a top portion 27 andoppositely disposed semi-arcuate depending portions 28 and 29, whichterminate iu a base 30, the latter being connected to the oody by thebolts 25. The depending portions 28 and 29 are formed with chambers 31and 32 which communicate at their lower ends with the upper section 21of the lubricant holding chamber 2O of the body. The walls defining thechambers 31 and 32 converge toward the top 27 of the cover, so that thecrosssectional areay of the chambers 31 and 32 is greater adjacent thebase than adjacent the top portion 27 of the cover. The upper end of thecover member 26 is provided with vents leading from the chambers 31 and32 in which are mounted pet-cocks 33 communicating with the atmosphere.The inner part of the base 30 is formed with an inwardly directedannular flange 34 in which is mounted an interiorly threaded sleeve 35having an inwardly directed flange 35. A bushing 36 is threaded into-thesleeve 35 and surrounds the upper end of a sleeve 5l, the outer surfaceof the sleeve 51 having bearings thereon.

A bearing support 37 is integral with and depends from the lower end ofthe body 16, and connected by bolts 37 to said bearing support 37 is abearing supportstuffing box collar 38 which carries a packing 38. Thecollar 38 is interiorly screw threaded for the reception of the threadedupper end of a stuffing box gland element-39.

Extending through an openingprovided centrally in the upper end of thecover member 26 is a wash pipe 40 having a flanged upper end 40 whichseats on the upper end 27 of the cover member 26. A gooseneck- 41 isadapted to fitl uponlthe flanged end 40 of wash pipe 40, and bolts 42serve to hold the gooseneck 41 to the upper end of the cover member 26and the wash pipe 40 in fixed relation to the cover member 26.

Mounted in the lower section 22 of chamber20 and in the space defined bythe annular collar 23 is a pair of races 43 and 44, while mounted in thebearing supprt 37 is a pair ot races 45 and 46. These pairs of races areseparated by a lantern 47 having openings 48 which register with theopenings 24 of the 'collar 23. Adapted to be retained in positionbetween races 43 and 44, and 45 and 46 by lantern 47 are series ofrollers 50 and 49, which bear particularly againstthe inner races 44yand 46. These inner races snugly engage the outer periphery of thesleeve 51 so that the inner and outer races, together with the rollers49 and 50, co-operate to provide upper and lower radial bearings 52 and53 which journal'the sleeve 51 in the body 16.

Formed near theupper end of the sleeve 51 is a hub 54 having an annularflange 55 extending outwardly therefrom. Positioned on the upper end ofthe collar 23 is a lower roller plate 56, and operable on the plate 56is a series of cone bearings 57 which engage against an upper plate 58attached to the lower surface ofthe flange portion 55 of hub 54. Thecone bearings 57 and the plates 56 and 58directly support the hub 54 andconsequently the sleeve 51 which receives in its upper end the lowerpart of the wash pipe 40 by a connecting means screwed thereto.

The upper end of the body 16 is open so as to permit the installation ofthe bearings therein. This upper end is closed, as heretofore stated, bythe cover member 26 secured thereto by the bolts 25. Interposed betweenflange 34 of the cover member 26 and the upper surface of the hub flange55 is a series of thrust bearings 60 disposed between races 61 and 62which prevent the sleeve 51 from rising, should an upward pressure beplaced thereon. The liearings 60 correctly position the hub flange 55relative to the body so that there is no axial movement therebetween.

A fluid-Supply means, best illustrated in Fig. 1, is adapted to supply`rotary mud through the pipe 40 to a bit on the lowerend of the sleeve51 and comprises a pump. not illustrated, which draws the mud fluid froma sump into an extended pipe whence it is conducted through a flexiblehose.- 'A coupling is provided on the end of the hose, this couplingbeing threadedly received by a hose connection 63. A clamping collar 64clamps the hose connection 63 to the outer end of a gooseneck connectingmember 41. This gooseneck 41 has a counterbored flange 65 which issecured to the cover member 26 by the bolts 42.

I prefer to place a gasket between the countersunk portion of the flange65 and the flange 40. of the wash pipe40. The fluid passing through thehose is thus forced through the gooseneck and through the pipe 40,whence it passes downward through an `opening in the sleeve 51 to theinterior of the drill pipe and resultantly the bit attached thereto.

To prevent any leakage of this fluid arounc the pipe 40 at 1ts pointvoflconnection with the sleeve 51, I providev a paking-retaining member 66positioned at the lower end of a counterbore 67 formed in the upper endof" the sleeve 51, this member 66 being adaptedv to receive the lowerend of the pipe 40. A main packing 68 is positioned above thepacking-retainin member 66 and may be compressed by `ie adjustment of anexternally threaded gland^69 which is threadedly received in the upperend of the countcrbore 67. At the intersection of the lower end of thecounterbore 67 and the u per end of the opening 51', the hub 54 is camfered as at 54', so as to allow the liquefied mud under any backpressures that may occur to force the gland 66 upwardly and compress thepacking 68 tightly around the mud iluid pipe 40. p

I prefer to ill the bearing chamber 20 with a light lubricating oilintroduced therein through a suitable inlet or vent 7() in the covermember 26. The packing38 prevents this oil from iowing from the lowersection 22 of the oil chamber 20.

Tt is highly desirable that no foreign iiuid such as drilling mud shouldreach the oil in the lubricating chamber 20. Should the main packing 68not be correctly adjusted in tight relationshi with the upper end of thesleeve 51, a leaage of mud might occur around the gland 69, this mudhavin a tendency to work into the bearing cham er 20 if the packing 68is not correctly adjusted. To prevent this, I provide a disc 71 whichrests on the upper end of the sleeve y51, and is cllampd thereto by anut 72 threaded on the g an 9.

This disc 71 rotates with the sleeve 51 when the rotary machine isoperated, and any mud or other foreign material reaching the uppersurface of this dise will be thrown outwardly therefrom by centrifugalforce so that there will be no possibility of foreign matter beingdischarged on the gland 69.

I provide roller bearings 60 to compensate for any radial thrust of thesleeve 51, and these thrust bearings 60 operating between race plates 61and 62 are held in position by the cover 26, sleeve 35 andiange 35'.Swivels at present in use in the oil-well industry provide sleevebearings to take this radial thrust, and these bearings require frequentreplacement due to the jars transmitted thereto by the irregularitiesencountered in the drilling operations. Sleeve bushings are prematurelydestroyed owing to the heavy impact of the whipping action of the kelly.The substitution of the roller bearings for sleeve bearings at thispoint increases the life of the swivel by insuring a perfect workingclearance of the sleeve, and a correct alignment of the sleeve 51 .withthe pipe 40.

if proper lubrication is not maintained, an unequal distribution of thelubricant will occur over the entire surface of the thrust bearing, thusprematurely wearing this and the other bearings.

The novel slip mounting of the pipe 40 in the cover 26 is also importantto my invention. This pipe is turned, ground, and hardcned so as towithstand wear, and no threads are cut therein to decrease the strengththereof or to become sheared or jammed through continued use of theswivel.

This novel supportingmeans for the pipe to the atmosphere, the mistedlubricant in the chambers 31 and 32 is thus cooled.

By providing the pet-cocks in the vents leading from the chambers 31 and32 heat generated in the chambers may be evacuated to the atmosphere atintervals by the proper adjustment of the pet-cocks.

As heretofore stated, lubricating oil is introduced into the oil jacket20 through the inlets 70, and for draining othe spent oil T providesuitable outlets which are closed by Iplugs 7 3 as illustrated in Fig.2.

claim as my invention:

1. ln a swivel, the combination of: a body providing a lubricantchamber; a sleeve rotatable in said chamber; bearing means in saidchamber below the normal lubricant level; sealing means for preventing aleak-V age of lubricant around said sleeve; and means providing avaporchamber above said lubricant chamber and above the normal lubricantlevel, into which vapor from said lubricant chamber may rise.

2. In a swivel, the combination of: a body providing a lubricantchamber; a sleeve rotatable in said chamber;` bearing means in' saidchamber below the normal lubricant levelpsealing means for preventing aleakage of lubricant around said sleeve; means providing a vapor chamberabove said lubricant chamber and above the normal lubricant level, intowhich vapor from said lubricant chamber may rise; and vent meansprovided in the upper part;v of said vapor chamber, whereby vapor may bereleased from said vapor chamber if desired.

3. In a swivel, the combination of: a body providing a lubricantchamber; a sleeve rotatable in said chamber; bearin means in saidchamber below the norma lubricant level; sealing means for preventing a.leak age of lubricant around said sleeve; a wash plpe supporting membersecured to the upper part of said body', said wash pipe suportmg memberproviding a vapor cham-4 er above said lubricant chamber and abovethenormal lubricant level, into which vapor from said lubricant chamber mayrise; and a wash pipe supported by said wash pipe supportingmem er andextending into communication with'said sleeve.

4. ln aswivel, the combination of: a body I providing a lubricantchamber; a sleeve` rotatable in said chamber; bearing means in iso -said chamber below the v per end of said legs,

said chamber below the normal lubricant level; sealing means forpreventing a leakage of lubricant around said sleeve; a Wash pipesupporting member secured to the upper part of said body, porting memberproviding a vapor chamber above said lubricant chamber and above thenormal lubricant level, into which vapor from said lubricant chamber mayrise; vent means provided in the upper part of said vaor chamber,whereby vapor'may be released rom said vapor'chamber if desired; and awash pipe supported by said wash pipe supporting member and extendinginto communication with said sleeve;

5. In a swivel, the combination of: a body providing a lubricantchamber; a sleeve rotatable in lsaid chamber; bearing means in normallubricant level; sealing `means for preventing a leakage of lubricantaround said sleeve; a Wasn pipe supporting member secured to the upperpart of said body having a plurality of egs anda ltop portion supportedat the upper end of said legs, each of said legs providing a vaporchamber above said lubricant chamber and above the normal lubricantlevel, into' which vapor from said lubricant chamber may rise; and aWash pipe supported by said top portion of said wash pipe supportingmember and extending into communication With said sleeve.

6. In a. swivel, the combination of: a body providing a lubricantchamber; a sleeve rotatable Yin said chamber; bearing means in saidchamber below the normal lubricant level; sealing means .for preventinga leakage of lubricant around said sleeve; a wash plpe supporting membersecured to the upper part of said body having a plurality of legs and atop portion supported at the up- -each of said legs providin a vaporchamber above said lubricant cham er and above the normal lubricantlevel, into which vapor from said lubricant chamber may'rise; a Washpipe supported by said top ortion ofsaid Wash pipe-supporting mem er andextending into communication with said sleeve; and vent means providedat the upper part of each of said vapor chambers whereby vapor may bereleased from said vapor chamber if desired.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand at Los Angeles,California, this 13 day of Feb., 1929.

GUGLIELMO TREMOLADA.

said wash pipo sup-

